Inaction Is Just A “Foolish Controversy”

One of my favorite verses is Titus 3:9. Most of my time seems to be spent in some "foolish controversy," some difference of opinions, some external or internal struggle that causes anxiety. I do avoid many "foolish controversies" with other people, and I think most people do the same. The problems come when the "controversy" involves an action that I am thinking about taking. Most of these actions are inconsequential. The controversy surrounding them is fictitious and completely made up by me with help from the world I have chosen to inhabit. But I drown in a quagmire of inaction, arguing with myself, and do nothing until I am forced.

But we are told to avoid these "controversies," these "arguments and quarrels about the law." We are told to move away, run to higher ground, to rise above the world. We must remember that we are saved by His grace. We are saved by the renewal of the Holy Spirit that only Jesus can bring. (Titus 3:3-8) Being saved means we are expected to move past controversy and follow Christ.

We are not told to avoid all conflict. We must "stand for something, or we will fall for anything." But we cannot get caught up in foolishness, or we'll spend our lives fighting with ourselves instead of fighting for God.